Charted by diabolical masterminds or driven by armies and Force-wielding super-warriors, the course of empires and galaxies can sometimes be changed by remarkable individuals in the right place with the right skills. Throughout galactic history, freedom fighters, idealists, and even the occasional mindless philosopher, have changed the lives of billions by their actions.

During the great civil war that saw the Rebel Alliance fight back against the Galactic Empire's cruel oppression. Heroes and leaders emerged from all walks of life, from the Imperial Senate to backwater farming worlds, from high society to fringe-dwelling lowlifes, all united in their desire to see change in the galaxy and the restoration of justice for all. Through bravery and force of character, these individuals created a legacy of enduring hope and belief that anyone has within them the power to recreate the Universe for good.

Raised among the senatorial elite, Princess Leia Organa is one of the most famous champions of the rebel cause. Risking everything and loosing more than anyone, Princess Leia resists the oppressive might of the Empire with a fiery spirit and the true heart of hero. A star of the Alderaanian court and the darling of her adoptive parents, Leia was well versed in the arts of diplomacy and societal protocol, but equally comfortable knee-deep in muck with a blaster in her hand and a Wookiee at her back.

Counterpoint to his Princess, brash smuggler-turned-freedom-fighter Han Solo grew up fending for himself and carving out a reputation in the galaxy's underworld as an ace pilot and a fast gun. Solo's contributions to the fight were often blunt and frequently unconventional, but, for all his bluster, they betrayed a noble heart behind his roguish persona.

Even the extremely alien and the non-living droids had heroes in their midst, sometimes in spite of themselves, be they the accidentally brave Gungan Jar Jar Binks, hero of Naboo, or the perpetually flustered protocol droid C-3PO. By contrast, the bravery of such warriors as the mighty Wookiee Chewbacca or the plucky astromech R2-D2 became legend all over the galaxy and a beacon of hope to oppressed alien and droids everywhere. Bravery and heroism took many forms, but all left a legacy that would endure far beyond their own lifetimes.

In the coming weeks, Sideshow Collectibles will reveal its first 'Heroes of the Rebellion' 12-inch figure.